Waiting day
Waiting days are an instrument for structuring continued payment of wages in the event of illness . If the employee cannot work due to illness, he receives z. B. for the first day of illness (the waiting day) no remuneration. If in a country z. For example, if the number of waiting days is set to two, he will not receive any remuneration for the first two days of illness (the waiting days).
In Germany there are basically no waiting days, but continued payment of wages from the first day of illness ( Section 3 (1) sentence 1 of the Continued Remuneration Act ). As an exception, in the event of a subsequent incapacity for work that does not justify the entitlement to continued payment according to ( Section 3 (1) sentence 2 EFZG), there is a waiting day in accordance with Section 46, Clause No. 2, Fifth Book of the Social Code . The three waiting days mentioned should not be confused with the submission of the certificate of incapacity for work in accordance with Section 5 (1) sentence 2 EFZG after three calendar days.
Reasons for waiting days
The continued payment of wages in the event of illness implies the temptation ( moral hazard ) to call in sick and not go to work for a certain period of time, even though one is not or only slightly ill (“ blue-collar ”). After the third calendar day (including the weekend), the employee must present the employer with a medical certificate of incapacity for work . Proponents of waiting days see the sickness rates, which vary depending on the day of the week, as an indication that not all employees who call in sick are actually sick.
During the waiting days, the employees themselves bear the costs of the first days of illness. This would effectively prevent going blue, while chronic and long-term illnesses would be covered by the health system, as wages would start again after the waiting days have expired.
Proponents predict a reduction in non-wage labor costs (which include continued payment of wages) through a waiting day or days ; this could contribute to economic growth and employment.
Reasons against waiting days
Opponents of waiting days fear that sick people will be deterred from the necessary doctor's visits and necessary restraint and that they will come to work sick for financial reasons. Illnesses would be dragged on and made worse. Low-income patients in particular could no longer afford to cure an illness. This leads to follow-up costs in the health system .
France
In France, the Fillon III cabinet introduced one (1) day of parental leave in the public sector in 2012; the number of sick days fell. In 2014, then President François Hollande abolished the parental leave day. His successor Emmanuel Macron announced in the presidential election campaign that he would reintroduce this waiting day.
Footnotes
- ↑ lefigaro.fr: Le retour attendu du jour de carence dans le public
